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leadership from the front vis a vis leadership from the back--which is more effective

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Mohan Kulkarni PM Specialist| MBK Consultants Pune, Maharashtra State. India, India
There are many leadership styles. Right choice or mix of choices for applicability varies with many many factors.
Many say leader should lead from front and many say leader should lead from back . Could this be said that Leading from Back with changed times be more effective than leading from front. ---views solicited
Mohan
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Sergio Luis Conte Helping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based Organizations Buenos Aires, Argentina
Jun 08, 2020 3:17 AM
Replying to Mohan Kulkarni
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Dear Sergio
Thanks for your inputs
Are you saying that there is a delinking between the complexity and criticality of the project or a program ? I doubt. The leadership style for the project or program is very much dependent on many other factors and id need be organisation work place leadership style may be required to get aligned with that preferred style that will delver results
Regards
Mohan
There are not a project more complex than other. But no matter that, leadership style is a matter of organizational culture not a matter of the project or program itself.
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Joshua Yoak Evanston, Il, United States
I've seen examples of both. On some projects you may be assigned as project manager, but there is someone who feels the project is their territory. If leadership agrees with that, you may have to lead from the back. I assume going in, I will be leading from the front.
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Peter Rapin Subject Matter Expect; Project Delivery| Independent Consultant Ontario, Canada
I think either can be abused.

Too much "lead from the front" can result in a 'one-man-show' where the whole team becomes subservient to the leader thus essentially the cleanup crew. Only one idea prevails.

Too much "from the rear" disconnects the 'leader' from the team, the leader fails to recognize the issues and ultimately losses the team to the 'unofficial lead' There's a significant risk of losing site of the objective.

Ideally the leadership must come from the team. The 'leader' cannot be seen as standing alone (isolated).either in front of in the rear.
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Adrian Carlogea Australia
As usual I have to point out the fact that the way someone leads and activity or a team depends greatly on his/her domain knowledge related to that activity.

From my understanding of "leading from the front" someone that does not have good domain knowledge relevant to the activity being performed simply can't lead from the front.

The first definition I found was this one: "take an active role in what one is urging and directing others to do".

How can you take an active role and direct others on what to do if you don't have the proper domain knowledge? In my opinion you can't

So it is not so much about authority but more about knowledge.
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Mohan Kulkarni PM Specialist| MBK Consultants Pune, Maharashtra State. India, India
Dear Adrian
Thanks for your participation in this thread and inputs
I agree with you . The leader must be knowledgable in all the concerned areas of activiyies whereby he is recognised and respected by the team .Leadership is more about knowledge and behaviour more than authority. Leader must be a integral part of team but still detached --Very difficult act but necessary to be successful in real sense.
He should be rolemodelling what he is expecting from team and accordingly act from front, back ,side or centre.
Regards
Mohan
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Mark Palesch President| Palesch Consulting Group Inc Ca, United States
Jun 07, 2020 8:38 AM
Replying to Kiron Bondale
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Effective leadership is situational leadership. In certain situations, it makes absolute sense for a leader to be in the front and very directive - for example, if a law is being broken or health & safety are at risk.

Kiron
Well Stated Kiron! While the four types of Situational leadership styles: Directing, Coaching, Supporting and Delegating have their advantages and disadvantages, choosing the right leadership style for the right people, at the appropriate time is critical. I also believe it depends on the competence and maturity of the followers, and where a team might be at in their development and growth. To me, it's a mix of both factors requiring a leader to use different strategies and methods.
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